Eels turn to star power to overcome horror start

MELBOURNE coach Craig Bellamy yesterday revealed he has spoken with his former assistant at the Storm - Parramatta coach Steve Kearney - to offer him support in the wake of the horror start to the season by the Eels.

Bellamy said yesterday he talked to Kearney on Saturday, the day after Parramatta slumped to its fourth loss from four matches this season. The Eels were flogged 39-6 at home by Penrith, and are the only team yet to win a game.

Slippery slope ... the Eels have lost four from four. Photo: Getty Images

''Steve is a very level-headed guy. He's quite a calm guy,'' Bellamy said. ''Obviously, it would be affecting him at the moment. But if you want anyone to lead Parramatta out of what they're going through at the moment he's the right man.

''He knows his footy really well, and he'll always be calm and make decisions that are right for the footy club. Like I said, I'm sure he's the right guy to lead them out of that.''

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Kearney yesterday made only minimal changes to his team for the game against Manly at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night, but one of them confirmed the return of star fullback Jarryd Hayne after two games out with a knee injury. Esi Tonga also returns, in the centres, after two games out with a hamstring injury.

Veteran winger Luke Burt has been dropped for the second time this season, and centre Ryan Morgan is also gone. But Kearney made no further changes, and it is clear part of the reason there were not wholesale sackings is the fact there are not a lot of players below first grade who are pushing for elevation.

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Parramatta's feeder club in the NSW Cup, Wentworthville, has won just one of its three games and that was against Western Suburbs, which is winless after three games.

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It is understood there has been an enormous amount of soul-searching among the Parramatta playing and coaching group this week, as they look for a way out of their awful situation. The Eels are losing by an average of 24.25 points a game.

That is the direct opposite to the situation in which Kearney's mentor, Bellamy, finds himself. The Storm are the only unbeaten team left in the competition, and are winning by an average of 20.75 points. Melbourne play Newcastle at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Bellamy said he expected his captain and hooker, Cameron Smith, to lift for his clash with Knights rake Danny Buderus. The pair are previous State of Origin combatants, and could be again this year with Buderus pressing for reinstatement to the NSW side.

''They've always had quite a healthy rivalry, Danny and Cameron, and I don't think that's going to change much on Friday night,'' Bellamy said. ''Whoever you go out and play against, you go out to make a bit of a stamp. I'm sure Cameron would be looking it at that way, and I'm sure Danny is that way as well.''